Feather ing-paddle



(No Model.) a

g G. A. KEENE.

FEATHERING PADDLE.

Patented Apr. 3, 883.

w WITNEEJEIEIE UNITED STATES PATENT flower.

enoncn A. KEENE, or LYNN, MASSALHUSETTS.

FEATHERING-PADDLE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,945, dated April 3, 18.81".

i Application filed January13,l883. (X model.)

' Fig. 3 is an edge view of a single bucket.

The broken lines 9 y in Figs 1 and 2 represent the water-line.

A is the spider-frame,supported and rotated by the shaft B. This spider-frame is constructed without rims, and has,say,six arms, A, corresponding to the spokes of a paddlewvheel having the usual rim or rims.

Supported in boxes a, on opposite arms A, are the rods 0, bent asshown at G, and provided at their ends with fiat buckets D, of the shape shown, which are rigidly secured to the said rods by means of ott'sets or fins D.

The buckets D are placed on the rods (J in such a manner that the surface of each bucket will be divided into two unequal areas. This is accomplished by causing each rod to enter the bucket at a point midway between its inner corners, while'the direction of said rod is toward a point two-thirds of the distance from one to the other of the outer corners, the bucket being made of such a shape that a line connect ing said points would be parallel to one edge and at an angle with the other. This is illustrated in Fig. 2,and particularlyin the bucket atthe top of the figure. The line 0 0 (showing the position of the rod 0) is drawn from a point mid way between the corners f f to the outer edge of the bucket parallel with the edge h. The line (I d is drawn from a point on the outer edge of the bucket one-half as far to the left of the line a c as the edge his distant from said line 0 0 parallel to line 0 c and edge h. Then a line, e e, is drawn from the outer end of line 0 c to the inner end of line d d. The edge gis parallel with lineee, commencing with the outer end of line d d. This brings the line of direction of the rod 0 (illustrated by line 0 a) midway between corners f f, but two-thirds of the distance from one to the other of the corners 1 and parallel to the line of travel.

k lt'. Thus the area between rod 0 and edge as to increase their effect by increasing the distance of the buckets from the line of direction of the main portion of the rod Q.

The operation of the buckets is illustrated by their relative positions, as shown in the figures. In Fig. 2 the bucket 1 is in the water, doing its work, and is at. right angles to the line of direction of the travel of the vessel. The bucket 2, on the opposite end or" the same rod,is necessarilyat right angles to the bucket As the bucket 1 leaves the water it assumes the position of bucket 3, its smaller area emerging first, the opposite bucket, 4, having its larger area uppermost. As soon as the bucket leaves the water its larger area drops, as does also the larger area of the opposite bucket, and the bucket which has left the water assumes the position of bucket 5, while the opposite one on ters the water at an angle, as shown in bucket 6, which angle is quickly exchanged for that shown in bucket 1. In brief, each bucket enters and leaves the water at an angle of fortytive degrees, and does its work at an angle of ninety degrees to the line of travel.

As will be seen in Fig. 1, the buckets on the rods of the wheel on one side of the boat are arranged just the reverse of those on the wheel on the other side of the boat, to prevent the wheels from workin g against each other.

The curved or convex shape of the buckets attheirinnerand outer edges may beexchanged for straight edges, if desired but the relative positions of the buckets and rods must remain as above described, and the offsets D must be so placed as to be on the upper surfaces of the buckets as they descend into the water, their principal object being to facilitate quickness of the buckets-in dropping into the desired positions. 7

Having thus fully described my invention, I do not claim as novel the use of buckets having unequal areas separated by their connecting-rods; but

\VhatI claim,and desire to secure by Letters shaft and having bearings, as described, the

Patent, iss 1. Thedriving-shaft,carryingaspider-frame, having bearings, as described, the shafts passing through said bearings and being capable of rotation therein and carrying floats outside the spider-frame, the sides of the floats being of unequal area, substantially as described.

2. Thedriving-shaft, carryingaspider-franle, having bearings, as described, the shafts O mounted so as to be capable of rotation in said bearings, and carrying buckets or floats, as described, the area of each-float at one side of the shaft being about three-fourths the area of the same float at the other side of the shaft, all substantially as described.

3. The spider-frame mounted on the drivingshafts C, mounted in said bearing and having offsets or cranks, as at 0, just outside the bearings on said spiders, and the buckets of unequal area outside the oflsets or bends in the shafts, all substantially as specified.

4. The spider-frame mounted on drivingshaft, as described, the rods 0, adapted to rotate in hearings on said frame, the buckets D, having sleeves D, which fit over the ends of rods 0 and are adjustably secured thereto, all as described.

GEO. A. KEEN E. 

